Game apparatus



Patented Mar. 26, 1940 PATENT OFFICE GAME APPARATUS Jerry C. Koci, Chicago, 111., assignor to Chicago Coin Machine Mfg. Co., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application January 17, 1940, Serial No. 314,261

9 Claims.

This invention relates to amusement apparatus and has as its principal object the provision of a novel target or objective for use in a ball rolling game, especially a simulated bowling game, in which the tenpins are dispensed with in their customary form and replaced by projections of light directed upon the playboard so as to designate the positions of the several pins as the same are set up or spotted in the customary triangular array in an actual bowling game, the player exercising skill in directing a bowling ball at the array of light projections in an effort to effect a strike or to enter upon the light areas of as many of the spots or light projections as possible, all in simulation of actual bowling practice.

A further object is the provision of switch means situated with respect to the spots or areas of light so as to be engaged by the bowling ball in a number depending upon the skill with which the ball is directed at the objectives or spots, said switches being connected in a control circuit for the light projecting means so as to extinguish the projections designating the particular areas which the ball has entered.

Viewed from another aspect, it is an object of the invention to arrange in a bowling game or the like a plurality of lamps and means for projecting light from each of the same onto a particular spot on a playboard to designate the position of spotted or racked bowling pins, and further to provide switch means arranged with respect to the several illuminated areas or light spots so as to be engaged by a ball bowled at the light spots and actuated to effect an extinguishing of the corresponding light source to indicate a hit, thus simulating the knocking over of a bowling pin or analogous target objective.

Regarded in still another of its aspects, the invention provides a bowling game including a playboard constituting an alley upon which a bowling ball is rolled by the player, a lamp housing above the alley and containing a plurality of electric lights, and means providing a' projecting aperture for each of the same from said housing to project a spot of light down onto the playboard, the lamps being arranged so that the light spots projected therefrom will be disposed in the familiar triangular array of bowling or tenpins, the invention further providing switch means situated in the illuminated spots or areas so as to be struck by the bowling ball, dependent upon the skill with which the ball has been directed at the array of light spots, the switches being connected with the lamps to cause extinction of the same whenever the bowling ball enters the illuminated spot or area to an extent sufllcient to constitute a hit, the disappearance of the projected light spot indicating such hit to the player.

Other objects, advantages and novel aspects 5 of the invention reside in certain details of construction as well as the cooperative relationship of the component parts of the illustrative embodiment described hereinafter in view of the annexed drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a vertical sectlonthrough a bowling game;

Fig, 2 is a fragmentary perspective layout of some of the projecting lamps and control switches therefor;

Fig. 3 is a circuit diagram.

While the invention is described for purposes of illustration as incorporated in a bowling game, it is to be understood that its application is not limited to this particular game but may be cmso ployed generally in any ball rolling game or arrangement wherein control elements are arranged with respect to a playing board for engagement by a ball or the like skillfully directed thereat.

In the illustrative embodiment of Fig. 1, the game includes an inclined playboard I 0 at the lower end of which are arranged a plurality of control elements in the form of switches ll situated beneath the board and each provided with an operating finger l2 projecting through a suitable opening in the board for exposure on the upper side thereof to be engaged by a bowling ball I3 normally resting in a gutter It at the front or higher end of the playboard. At the 86 lower or rear end of the board there is a transverse ball return gutter i5 into which the bowled ball rolls from the board for movement into a longitudinally directed ball return gutter 16 inclined toward the front gutter or pocket I4, by 40 means of which the bowled ball is automatically returned for reuse at the front of the board or alley.

Instead of employing tenpins as in the usual bowling game, the invention provides in lien 48 thereof a plurality of beams of projected light L, such light being projected from a corresponding number of electric lamps l1 situated in a lamp housing l8 above the rear or lower end of the playboard.

The several lamps are mounted on brackets It to space the same at a desired level above the floor portion 20 of the lamp housing, there being an opening 21 formed in said floor beneath each lamp in vertical alignment with one of the switch .5

operating fingers l2, each lamp also being provided with a projecting disc 22 in which is formed a small aperture 23 (Fig. 2) suitable for projecting the beams L down onto the board to define a spot S of light (Fig. 2 particularly) of sufficient area to surround the corresponding switch operating finger, said spot preferably being proportioned to the diameter of the base of a bowling pin of a size suitable for use in the game illustrated.

The arrangement of the lamps H is such that the several light beams L therefrom will be projected onto the playboard III in a certain pattern so that the spots will be arranged in the triangular pattern in which tenpins are familiarly arranged in actual bowling practice. Correspondingly, the several switch operating fingers are similarly arranged so that each of the same will be situated in one of the projected light spots, said fingers alone or the light spots alone, or in combination, constituting target objectives at which the player bowls the ball l3.

The triangular array of the switch means ll-- l2 and particularly the operating fingers thereof, is shown schematically in the circuit diagram of Fig. 3, wherein each switch will also be observed to have one of its terminals connected to a common power conductor 25, while the remaining terminals thereof are respectively connected in a control circuit for the corresponding lamp. For example, the first control switch corresponding to the king-pin has its operating finger designated as l2a in Fig. 2, the corresponding switch being particularly designated as Ha, while another of the control members or switches corresponding to the #2 pin has its operating finger designated particularly as l2b to distinguish it from the switch in the king-pin position, the corresponding switch being designated llb for the same reason.

In the circuit diagram, the remaining terminal of the king-pin switch He is connected by a conductor 25 to one contact spring 21 of a locking switch #1, there being a companion contact spring 28 connected to one terminal of the switch winding, and the remaining winding terminal being connected by conductor 29 to the return side of the power source or line. The contact spring assembly of the #1 switch also includes a contact spring 30 which is connected by conductor 3| to the lamp Ila which corresponds to the king-pin position, the other terminal of this lamp being connected by conductor 32 to one terminal of a transformer secondary T, the other terminal of which is connected by conductor 33 to the remaining contact spring 34 in the locking switch.

There may be one locking switch associated with each of the lamps IT, or in another arrangement there may be one looking switch common to two or more lamps. For purposes of simplification, the circuit connections for only two of the lamps Ila and I'll) have been shown in detail in the circuit diagram, it being assumed that the connections to the remaining lamps and associated control switches are identical.

The construction of the locking switches is such that each includes a pivoted operating lever 35 provided with an insulated roller 36 adapted to bear against the lowermost spring 28, for example, in the #1 locking switch assembly, so as to urge the springs 23 and 30 into circuit closing engagement with the companion springs 21 and 34. Each locking switch also includes an armature 31 provided with a locking lug 38 ensageable in a notch 39 in the corresponding lever 35 for the purpose of locking the latter in switch closing engagement with the contactspring assembly.

Spring means 40 is connected to the armature and lever in each switch normally retracting the armature for locking engagement with the lever arm.

The switch operating levers 3301'. the several locking switches are jointly moved into locked condition at the start of each game by operation of a solenoid ll actuated by closing a switch 42 in a power circuit therewith, and having its plunger 43 connected mechanically as by a link 44 to pivot the several levers 35 into switch closing position upon attraction of plunger 43, the levers being automatically locked by engagement of lugs 38 in the corresponding notches.

With the several locking switches in closed condition as aforesaid, the lamps I! will be 11-- luminated and the player takes the ball I3 and skillfully directs it at the triangular array of light spots or projections in an effort to make a strike, that is, to hit the king-pin with the intent of knocking down all of the tenpins, the difference, of course, in the present arrangement residing in the fact that the tenpins are of relatively intangible nature in that they are represented by beams of light, and the real eifort of the player, therefore, must be to direct the ball at the foremost light spot S (Fig. 2) to cause the ball to engage the control means or switch operating finger l2a, which, if accomplished, will result in the energization of the winding of the #1 locking switch, with a consequent attraction of its armature 31 and release of the corresponding switch operating lever 35, permitting switch contacts 30 and 34 to open and extinguish lamp l'la. Contacts 21 and 28 are also opened,

thus cutting the #1 locking switch winding out of the circuit so that it cannot thereafter be operated until reset.

It is contemplated that the making of a strike, that is, actuation of what may be termed the king-pin switch |la--I2a, will effect extinction of all lamps, as in the usual bowling game. However, circuit connections are not shown for accomplishing this in the present application, applicant having a copending application, Serial No. 318,059, in which the circuit connections are described and claimed per se. the present disclosure being concerned primarily with the arrangement of light projecting means arranged to illuminate a corresponding control, thus constituting a target objective which, when struck or analogously engaged, will extinguish the light.

In playing the game, the switch 42 is closed to reset the several locking circuits, thus closing power circuits to the several lamps l'l, each of which projects a light beam L down onto the playboard in the area about the corresponding control switch operating finger. The player then removes the ball i3 from the forward gutter and propels the same over the board ill in an endeavor usually to strike the foremost switch operating finger I211 as designated by the corresponding spot of light S. If the aim is accurate, switch Ila will be operated to energize the winding of #1 locking switch and causing the lever 35 thereof to be released with a consequent deenergization of the corresponding lamp lla. Should the #2 pin or spot switch be struck, instead, switch lib would be closed with a consequent energization of the winding of #2 locking switch and deenergization and extinction of lamp I'Ib, other lamps being extinguished in like manner by lock- 8,104,880 ing switches and circuit connections identical with those described, and omitted to avoid duplication and simplify the description. The score achieved may be indicated by lamps 50 situated behind a, score panel St at the top of the machine and controlled by circuit connections with the various locking switches and other switch means not shown herein, but described and claimed in the aforesaid copending application.

It will be understood that the light projecting means is not confined to an arrangement above the board, but may be situated in any suitable manner for projecting a designating beam onto a corresponding control member or switch.

The various advantages and objects of the invention may be accomplished by modifications of the particular embodiment specifically described herein, and it is intended that the appended claims shall include all equivalent arrangements fairly coming within their call.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with a ball rolling board of means for projecting light onto certain areas of the. board to indicate objectives to be gained by a ball rolled on said board, and switch means situated with respect to certain of said areas so as to be engaged and operated by a ball properly directed at the same and the illuminated area associated therewith, said switch means being connected in a control circuit for said light projecting means to effect extinguishing of the projected light designating the particular switch means actuated as aforesaid, whereby to indicate a gaining of the objective.

- 2. In a ball rolling game, the combination of means defining a ball playing field, means for projecting a beam of light onto a certain portion of said field to define a ball objective, means for effecting extinguishing of said beam to obliterate said ball objective, and means for actuating said extinguishing means and including an operating part adapted to be engaged and actuated by a ball and situated with respect to said certain part of the playing field upon which the light beam is directed so as to constitute a part of said ball objective.

3. In a ball game, the combination with a playing field of a plurality of light sources normally connected with an energizing source while the game is in use, means for directing light from said sources in accordance with a predetermined pattern onto certain spots on parts of said playing field, and ball-actuated control means situated within the confines of each of said spots to constitute with the latter a target at which a ball 'may be directed,-the control means in each spot being arranged and constructed to disconnect the corresponding light source from said energizing source by engagement with the control means of a ball successfully directed at one of said targets, whereby in effect to obliterate the target to indicate a hit:

4. In a ball rolling game, the combination with a ball rolling board of a plurality of ball switches each having a control element for actuating the same exposed on said board for engagement and operation by a ball, electrically energized means 10 for projecting a spot of light onto each portion of said board in which one oi! said control elements is situated, said spots of light each defining objectives at which said ball may be projected, together with circuit control means and conpose of indicating a score.

nections including said ball switches and a source of power arranged so that a ball entering substantially into the field defined by one of said spots of light can engage and efiect operation of the corresponding circuit control means to extinguish the light defining the corresponding spot.

5. In a ball rolling game, the combination with a ball playing board of means providing a light housing spaced from said board, a plurality of electric light sources in said housing, means defining a projection aperture for each light source in said housing and arranged to direct a beam of light onto a certain spot on said board, circuit control means for certain light sources and each including a circuit connection with a power source normally energizing one of said light sources and a ball-operated switch operable to eifect deenergization of the corresponding light source when engaged and operated by a ball, each of said ball switches having an operating element situated on said board in an area illuminated by light pro-' jected as aforesaid and adapted to be engaged by a ball to operate the corresponding switch as aforesaid. 6 In an amusement apparatus, the combination with a ball rolling board of means for projecting a pattern oflight onto a portion of the board on which a ball is to be rolled, and means situated in the area in which said pattern is projected so as to be engaged and operated by a ball rolled into said area for controlling said projecting means to actuate the latter for the pur- 7. In a game including a ball rolling board and switch means positioned with respect to said a board to be operated by a ball rolled thereon in playing the game, the combination with said switch means of electric light means connected in an energizing circuit controlled bysaid switch means, together with means for directing light from said light means onto a certain surface area in said field in which saidswitch means is situated to designate said area as a target objective, said ball attaining said objective by-entering said area toengage and operate said switch means and actu- 5 ate said light meansto give a scoring indication. 8. In a game apparatus, the combination with means providing a surface over which a" ball is rolled of means providing a spot of light on said surface, said spot of light constituting an objective at which a ball is adapted to be directed over said surface, and means cooperating with said second-mentioned means and including an operating element situated with respect to said spot of light to be engaged and actuated-by said ball when the latter is successfully directed as aforesaid at said spot of light to actuate said sec-- end-mentioned means and efiect extinction of said spot of light to indicate the attaining of said objective. r

9. In a bail game,'means providing a surface on which a ball is adapted to be rolled, means is situated.

JERRY C. KOCI. 

